Lift and dump apparatus for refuse containers



Oct. 11, 1966 E R1DGEWAY ETAL LIFT AND DUMP APPARATUS FOR REFUSECONTAINERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 16, 1964 INVENTORS WILLIAMS.APPLEMAN EDWARD L. RI DGEWAY ATTORNEYS Oct. 11, 1966 DG W Y ETAL3,278,059

LIFT AND DUMP APPARATUS FOR REFUSE CONTAINERS Filed Nov. L6, 1964 5Sheets-Sheet 2 I VENTORS WILLIAM SAPPLEMAN EDWARD LLFy V/ FIG 3ATTORNEYS Oct. 11, 1966 E 1 EW Y ETAL 3,278,059

LIFT AND DUMP APPARATUS FOR REFUSE CONTAINERS 5 SheetsSheet 5 Filed Nov.16, 1964 INVENTOR5 WILLAM S. APPLEMAN EDWARD LJPIDGEWAY ATTORN EYS Oct.11, 1966 W Y ETAL 3,278,059

LIFT AND DUMP APPARATUS FOR REFUSE CONTAINERS Filed NOV. 16, 1964 5Sheets-Sheet 4 26 WILLIAWQE EE EMAN I WAY F|(; 8 B EDWARD L RDG W iATTORNEYS Oct. 11, 1966 1 ETAL 3,278,059

LIFT AND DUMP APPARATUS FOR REFUSE CONTAINERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledNOV. 16, 1964 INVENTORE M SAPPLEIMAN RD L. RIDGEWAY ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent 3,278,059 LEFT AND DUMP APPARATUS FOR REFUSE CQNTAENERSEdward Ridgeway, Rte. 1, and William S. Appleman, 1135 Westmoor Drive,bath of Galion, Uhio Filed Nov. 16 1964, Ser. No. 411,244 1t) Claims.(Cl. fire-3&2)

The present invention relates generally to lift and dump apparatus andparticularly to an improved front loading apparatus for lifting anddumping waste into a specially adapted vehicle.

The disposal of waste materials presents a constant problem in presentday industrial plants, restaurants, and other establishments having alarge quantity of waste. Efforts have been made which successfully haveincorporated lift and dump apparatus on disposal trucks adapted to liftand dump standardized Waste containers. But the efforts made to reduceexpense in this area have brought about the use of larger containerswhich must be handled just as eflrciently as smaller containers.

A most serious problem in handling the larger containers is createdduring the dumping operation by at least two container load conditions.One such condition is created when the container is initially loaded soas to become top-heavy, for example, when the container is partiallyfilled with paper and a much heavier waste material is placed on top.The second troublesome top-heavy condition occurs during the dumpingoperation when part of the contents of the container fail to fall outand become lodged within the upper portion of the container or entangledwith the container lid. In the second instance, when the operatorattempts to put the container through another dumping cycle to dislodgethe residual refuse, the now topheavy container prematurely overturnsbefore the main hook is fully closed to lock in the container lift lug.As a result the container falls into the truck hopper causing much delayand expense in removing the same.

In general, the lift and dump apparatus of the present inventioncomprises a support means adapted to be attached to a suitable vehicle,a pair of lift arms pivotally connected to the supported means, powermeans to move the lift arms between horizontal and vertical positions,latch means, and a container provided with lug means for engagement withsaid latch means. A main locking means is provided to secure thecontainer engagement and safety hooks are provided to give addedassurance of secure container engagement even under adverse containerload conditions.

In accordance with the present invention, an improved lift and dumpapparatus has been constructed to eliminate the hazard created by theabove mentioned top-heavy container load conditions.

As another aspect of the present invention, a gravity operated,self-latching safety hook construction is utilized to at all timesfunction as a secondary container locking means in the event of failureof the main locking means and which also functions to maintaincontainers in latched engagement under the previously mentioned unusualtopheavy load conditions.

As another aspect of the present invention, the improved latching meanscombined with an improved linkage means provides the versatility toefficiently lift and dump waste containers of all standard sizes.

As another aspect of the present invention, the improved construction ofthe self-catching latch means permits easier ice engagement with thecontainer thereby providing a faster dumping operation which reducescosts.

As another aspect of the present invention, the novel configuration ofthe slot in the jaw portion of the latch means permits automaticself-leveling of the container during its assent to the pre-dumpingposition and thereafter aids the tilting of the container when the latchmeans is actuated to rotate the container into the overturned dumpingposition.

As a further aspect of the present invention, the improved relativelysimple construction of the latching means lends itself to economicalmanufacture and fabrication.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide anapparatus of the type described which utilizes a novel safety hookconstruction to eliminate the hazard created by the previously mentionedtop-heavy container load conditions.

t is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus of thetype described which has a safety hook construction which will at alltimes insure container engagement in the event that the main lockingmeans should mechanically fail.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus ofthe type described which has the versatility to lift and dump wastecontainers of all standardized sizes.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus ofthe type described which reduces the time involved in the dumpingprocedure to minimize operational costs.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus of the type described which provides automatic self-levelingengagement of the container while it is being lifted to a position abovethe vehicle prior to dumping.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatusof the type described of improved simple construction which minimizesmechanical failure of components and may be economically manufacturedand fabricated.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention isclearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a waste disposal truck with liftand dump apparatus constructed in accordance with the present inventionattached thereto;

FIG. 2 is a partial top plan view illustrating one side of the lift anddump apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial side elevational view illustrating the latch meansof the present invention at the initial state of engagement with thewaste container;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating the container as itis initially raised toward the final dumping position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating the container in aposition further advanced toward the final dumping position;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating the container in apro-dumping position wherein the lift arms are at their uppermostposition;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but illustrating the initial positionof the container as the latch means begins to rotate at the start of theactual dumping procedure and the position of the safety hook whichinsures engagement of the container from the latch means at thisposition;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but illustrating the container in thecompletely overturned dumping position with the latch means fullyrotated and the main locking means as well as the safety hook securingthe engagement between the latch means and container;

-FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of the latch means and containerin the rotated dumping position.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but illustrating the position of anunstable top-heavy container when the lift arms are at their uppermostposition. The container is shown overturned to a greater degree than thestable container illustrated in 'FIG. 6; and

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 but illustrating the initialposition of the unstable container as the latch means begins to rotateat the start of the actual dumping procedure and the position of thesafety hook which insures engagement of the container from the latchmeans at this position.

Referring in detail to the drawings, a front loading lift and dumpapparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention isillustrated in FIG. I mounted to a waste disposal truck, indicatedgenerally at provided with a body 22 having an open top 23.

A support frame, indicated generally at 24, is provided on the lowerportion of body 22 and includes brackets 25 and 27. An identical pair oflift arms 26 are mounted to opposite ends of a rotatable shaft 28 whichis operatively connected to frame 24. Power means, in the form of ahydraulic cylinder and piston 30 are operatively connected to shaft 28by link 32, lever rod 34 and link 36. Suitable hydraulic controls, notillustrated, are connected to cylinder 30 and disposed in the cab oftruck 20 by which shaft 28 and arms 26 may be rotated from thehorizontal position to the vertical position shown in 'FIG. 1. A rearstrain rod 38 connected to brackets 25 and 27 and a front strain rod 40connected to bracket 27 and frame 24- are provided to distribute theload and give added support to the lift assembly.

As best seen in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a bar 42 is transversely connectedbetween leg portions 48 and mounting pad 43 and reinforced by a gusset 44.

A latch means, indicated generally at 46, includes the jaw portion 52and the leg portion 48 which is pivotally mounted to the end of arm 26by pivot pin 50. Jaw portion 52 is provided with a slot 53 for engaginga lug 54 provided on the side of a Waste container 56.

A second power cylinder 58 including piston rod 60 is connected to abracket 62 on arm 26 by pin 64 and to bracket 66 on latch means 46 bypin 68. Power cylinder 58 is also connected to hydraulic controlsdisposed in the cab of truck 20 and operates to pivot leg portion 48from the position shown in FIG. 6 to the position shown in FIGS. 8 and 9wherein the container is virtually completely overturned into a dumpingposition.

The lift arm and latch means assembly is identical on the opposite sideas that shown and described in FIGS. 1 through 9.

A main hook 70 is pivoted to jaw portion 52 by pivot pin 72 and to aconnected link 74 by pin 76, best seen in FIG. 5. Main hook 70 includesa main lug engaging shoulder 71 that is movable across slot 57 forretaining container lug 54 therein. Connecting link 74 is also pivotedto the end of arm 26 by a pivot pin 78. The contraction of piston rod 60by power cylinder 58 actuates latching means 46 to pivot through thepositions shown in FIGS. 7 through '9. Connecting link '74 actuates hook70 to pivot clockwise to the locking position illustrated in FIG. 8 tolock the engagement between lug 54 and jaw portion 52.

A gravity operated, self-latching safety hook 80 includes acounterweight portion 82 and is pivoted to jaw portion 52 by a pivot pin72. Safety hook 80 includes a safety lug engaging shoulder 83 that ismovable across slot 57 for retaining container lug 54 therein. It isimportant to point out that safety hook performs the function of solelylocking the engagement of jaw portion 52 to lug 54 under twocircumstances.

The first occurs when unusual load conditions render container 56top-heavy and causes it to partially overturn before main hook 70 isactuated to pivot to a locking position as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and11.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 10 and 11, the position of an unstabletop-heavy container is illustrated at the same lifting stage asillustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 for a stable container. However, in FIGS.10 and 11 the center of gravity of the container is above lugs 54 whichcauses the container to prematurely tilt.

The second circumstance where safety hook 80 solely performs the lockingfunction occurs when main hook '70 fails mechanically under normal loadconditions to perform the locking function.

In operation, the driver of the truck approaches the container to bedumped with lift arms 26 in a position wherein latch means 46 aredisposed lower than lugs 54 on container 56. As arms 26 approach thecontainer 56, bar 42 acts as a stop to automatically position the slotin jaw portion 52 or sloped portion 53 under lugs 54. The driver thenactuates cylinders 30 to raise arms 26 and cause lugs 54 to slip intothe slot of jaw portion 52. Container 56 is then securely engaged to jawportion 52 and remains in the stable vertical position shown in FIGS. 3through 5 as arms 26 continue to rise.

It is important to point out that the shape of the slot, particularlythe wide bottom, provides automatic selfleveling of the container duringits ascent through the position illustrated in FIG. 5. In the positionof the stable container as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, shoulder 51 of jawportion 52 engages the side of lug 54 and aids in tilting the containeras seen in FIGS. 6 and 7.

Under normal load conditions in the container 55, it is stable andrelatively upright as seen in FIG. 6 and the driver simply actuatespower cylinder 58 to retract piston 60 which pivots latch means 46clockwise to tilt container 56 to the dumping position illustrated inFIG. 8. Simultaneously to the pivoting of latch means 46, main hook 70is pivoted by the action of connecting link 74 to hook lug 54 and lockthe engagement between lug 54 and jaw portion 52.

Gravity operated safety hook 80, being freely pivoted, also hooks lug'54 to lock the engagement between lug 54 and jaw portion 52 andoperates prior to main hook 70 as seen beginning in FIG. 5. If therewere a mechanical failure in the operation of main hook 70 at this time,it is understood that safety hook 80 would prevent container 56 fromfalling into the opening 23 of body 22. It is important to point outthat safety hook 80 is always disposed in a self-latching position bycounterweight portion 82 so that it acts independently of main hook 70to engage lug 54.

However, if the previously mentioned top-heavy load conditions occur asillustrated in FIG. 10 and FIG. l l, the lugs 54 roll away from shoulder51 as the container partially overturns because the center of gravity ofthe container is above lugs 54. This partial overturning occurs beforemain hook 70 is actuated and safety hook 80 functions as the sole lockfor the engagement between lugs 54 and jaw portion 52 to preventcontainer 56 from falling into body 22. Then latch means 46 and mainhook 70 are actuated as described above to completely overturn container56 and perform the locking function.

It is important to point out that it is impossible for the driver toalways be aware of the conditions which promote the prematureoverturning of container 56 and without safety hook 80, the containerwould fall into opening 23 to cause costly salvage and repair problems.The present invention removes the danger of this problem and increasesthe safety of the operation.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as hereindisclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood thatother forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

We claim:

1. Material lifting and dumping apparatus for a frontloading vehicleprovided with an open top receptacle comprising, in combination, supportmeans attached to said vehicle; a pair of lift arms pivotally connectedto said support means; latch means pivotally mounted on the ends of saidarms including normally vertically disposed slot means; a containerprovided with outwardly extending lug means on opposite sides thereoffor slideable engagement with said slot means; means for moving saidarms and said latch means into engagement with said lug means and forlifting said container into an overturned dumping position over saidopen top receptacle; main hook means mounted on said latch means andincluding a main lug engaging shoulder movable across said slo-t meansbetween an open and a closed position for retaining said lug means insaid slot means; and safety hook means mounted on said latch means andincluding a safety lug engaging shoulder movable across said slot meansfor safety engagement with said lug means during movement of said mainlug engaging shoulder between said positions.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said safety hook meansincludes a counterweighted portion which automatically positions saidsafety hook for locking engagement with said lugs when said container isoverturned.

3. Material lifting and dumping apparatus for a frontloading vehicleprovided with an open top receptacle comprising, in combination, supportmeans attached to said vehicle; a pair of lift arms pivotally connectedto said support means; latch means pivotally mounted on the ends of saidarms including normally vertically disposed slot means; a containerprovided with outwardly extending lug means on opposite sides thereoffor slideable engagement with said slot means; means for moving saidarms and said latch means into engagement with said lug means and forlifting said container into an overturned dumping position over saidopen top receptacle; main hook means pivotally mounted on said latchmeans and including a main lug engaging shoulder movable in onedirection across said slot means between an open and a closed positionfor retaining said lug means in said slot means; safety hook meanspivotally mounted on said latch means and including a safety lugengaging shoulder movable in the other direction across said slot meansfor safety engagement with said lug means during movement of said mainlug engaging shoulder between said positions.

4. Material lifting and dumping apparatus for a frontloading vehicleprovided with an open top receptacle comprising, in combination, supportmeans attached to said vehicle, a pair of lift arms pivotally connectedto said support means; latch means pivotally mounted on the ends of saidarms including normally vertically disposed slot means; a containerprovided with outwardly extending lug means on opposite sides thereoffor slideable engagement with said slot means; power means operativelyconnected to said arms for moving said arms and said latch means intoengagement with said lug means and for lifting said containervertically; means operatively connected to said arms and said latchmeans to pivot said latch means and said container into an overturneddumping position; main hook means pivotally connected to said latchingmeans and including a main lug engaging shoulder movable across saidslot means between an open end and a closed position for retaining saidlug means in said slot means; link means pivotally connected to saidarms and said main hook means for pivoting said main hook means intolocking engagement with said lug means when said latch means is pivotedinto said dumping position; safety hook means mounted on said latchmeans and including a safety lug engaging shoulder movable across saidslot means for safety engagement with said lug means during movement ofsaid main lug engaging shoulder between said portions.

5. Material lifting and dumping apparatus for a frontloading vehicleprovided with an open top receptacle comprising, in combination, supportmeans attached to said vehicle, a pair of lift arms pivotally connectedto said support means; latch means pivotally mounted on the ends of saidarm and including slot means; a container provided with outwardlyextending lug means on opposite sides thereof for slideable engagementwith said slot means; power means for moving said arms between ahorizontal position wherein said latch means engage said lug means and avertical pre-dumping position wherein said container is partiallyoverturned; safety hook means mounted on said latch means and includinga safety lug engaging shoulder movable in one direction on said latchmeans for engagement with said lug means to prevent disengagement ofsaid lug means from said latch means when said container is lifted tosaid pre-dumping position; means operatively connected to said arms andsaid latch means to effect the further pivoting of said container fromsaid pre-dumping position to a virtually completely overturned dumpingposition; and main hook means mounted on said latch means and includinga main lug engaging shoulder movable in one direction on said latchmeans for locking said engagement between said lug means and said latchmeans when said container is pivoted from said pro-dumping position tosaid dumping position.

6. Material lifting and dumping apparatus for a frontloading vehicleprovided with an open top receptacle comprising, in combination, supportmeans attached to said vehicle, a pair of lift arms pivotally connectedto said support means; latch means pivotallly mounted on the ends ofsaid arms including normally vertically disposed engagement meansconnected on the outer portion of said latch means; a container providedwith outwardly extending lug means on opposite sides thereof for secureslideable engagement with said engagement means; power means operativelyconnected to said arms for moving said arms between a horizontalposition wherein said latch means engage said lug means and a verticalpredumping position wherein said container is partially overturned;gravity operated self-latching safety hooks pivotally mounted on saidlatch means and including safety lug engaging shoulders movable acrosssaid slot means for engagement with said lug means to prevent thedisengagement of said lug means from said latch means when saidcontainer is lifted to said pre-dumping position; power cylindersoperatively connected to a respective one of said arms and said latchmeans for further pivoting of said container from said pre-dumpingposition to a dumping position wherein said container is virtuallycompletely overturned; and main hook means pivotally connected to saidlatch means and including a main lug engaging shoulder movable acrosssaid slot means between an open and a closed position for retaining saidlug means in said slot means when said container is pivoted from saidpredumping position to said dumping position.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said engagement meansinclude an approximately U-shaped slot for receiving said lug means andautomatically leveling said container during its ascent toward saiddumping position.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said engagement meansincludes an approximately U-shaped slot provided with a pair ofshoulders; and said lug means include a lower edge and an upper shoulderspaced such that said lower edge engages the bottom of said U-shapedslot and said upper shoulder extends above said shoulders of said slot.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said engagement meansinclude an approximately U-shaped slot for receiving said lug means andautomatically leveling said container during its ascent toward saiddumping position.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said engagement meansinclude an approximately U-shaped slot provided with a pair ofshoulders; and said lug means include a lower edge and an upper shoulderspaced such that said lower edge engages the bottom of said U- shapedslot and said upper shoulder extends above said shoulders of said slot.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Beasley et a1214302 Aldredge et a1. 214-302 Aldredge et a1. 214-302 Aldredge et a1.214302 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

Attest:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,278,059 October 11, 1966 Edward L. Ridgeway et al.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read ascorrected below.

Column 6 line 2 for "portions" read positions Signed and sealed this12th day of November 1968 (SEAL) EDWARD J. BRENNER Edward M. Fletcher,Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer

1. MATERIAL LIFTING AND DUMPING APPARATUS FOR A FRONTLOADING VEHICLEPROVIDED WITH AN OPEN TOP RECEPTACLE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, SUPPORTMEANS ATTACHED TO SAID VEHICLE; A PAIR OF LIFT ARMS PIVOTALLY CONNECTEDTO SAID SUPPORT MEANS; LATCH MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE ENDS OF SAIDARMS INCLUDING NORMALLY VERTICALLY DISPOSED SLOT MEANS; A CONTAINERPROVIDED WITH OUTWARDLY EXTENDING LUG MEANS ON OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOFFOR SLIDEABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SLOT MEANS; MEANS FOR MOVING SAIDARMS AND SAID LATCH MEANS INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LUG MEANS AND FORLIFTING SAID CONTAINER INTO AN OVERTURNED